Universal Studios takes on Christmas with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

If you haven't visitedThe Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood, now is the time.

We’ve seen Universal create picture-perfect horror mazes with Halloween Horror Nights, but for the first time the park is using its movie magic on another holiday.

Utilizing one of its greatest assets, Christmas at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is one of the most heartfelt, romantic, and truly magical experiences this season.

1 of

Hogsmeade Village

When you walk through the archway into Hogsmeade, you're met with snow-capped rooftops and garlands winding all the way to Hogwarts Castle in the distance.

It straight-up looks like a Scandinavian mountain town from one of the bazillion travel Instagram accounts and it puts you in the spirit of things right away.

Beside the holiday decorations, the architecture of the town is breathtaking.

1 of

"The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle" Light Show

The main attraction is the revamped light show.

Using projection-mapping, the facade of Hogwarts Castle appears to freeze over, open up, and even turn into Zonko's Joke Shop. Complete with fireworks and classic John Williams score, the show even utilizes the surrounding trees to simulate snowfall.

ADVERTISEMENT

Look, I'm no poet, but there's a special place in my heart for both Christmas and Harry Potter so just know that I had to hold back tears the entire time. It's truly a special thing to experience and if your heart is a Venn diagram of holidays and fantasy movies, this is where it overlaps.

Check out the video above for a better look at the show.

1 of

Holiday Fare

DAVID SPRAGUE/USH

Holiday fare served at Three Broomsticks for "Chrstmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter" at Universal Studios Hollywood.

DAVID SPRAGUE/USH

And yes, there's holiday treats.

Actually there's not only treats, there's a full-on holiday meal with roast turkey, pigs in blankets, and a whole bunch of other quality food that frankly has no business at a theme park (not complaining.)

How good is your taste in dessert?

Dessert quiz

Take the Quiz

The highlight is easily their hot butterbeer. So this is a seasonal version of their year-round butterbeer drink that's basically liquid butterscotch. I don't know what the sugar content is, but I drank FOUR.

Adult supervision advised.

1 of

Harry Potter Christmas Decorations

"Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" at Universal Studios Hollywood.

"Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" at Universal Studios Hollywood.

"Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" at Universal Studios Hollywood.

ADVERTISEMENT

Luckily the good people of Hogsmeade didn't forget it's a shopping holiday.

There's plenty of new knickknacks to be had including tree ornaments, stockings, tree toppers, and house pennant garlands.

There's even some new interactive wands at Ollivander's that allow you to cast spells in certain areas of the park for a special interactive experience.

Last but not least, it turns out Hogwarts has a glee club.

A surprisingly fun alternative to carolers, the frog choir performs original holiday songs with the help of puppet frogs croaking in sync. In all seriousness, it's likely only a matter of time until we have a Harry Potter musical so if this is the groundwork, I'm down.

Check out the video above to hear one of their songs about casting Christmas spells, which is exactly the kind of Pagan witchcraft I'm all about.

1 of

Check out more of the Wizarding World at Christmas

The world of Harry Potter lends itself so well to Christmas that this instantly became my whole reason to visit the park. Though just a small section of Universal Studios Hollywood, this holiday experience is sure to give Disneyland a run for their money.

Christmas at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is open at Universal Studios Hollywood from November 24th until January 7th.